PROUT: A New Paradigm of Development PDF Print E-mail
PROUT
Written by Ravi Logan   

PROUT is a new socio-economic theory intended to create opportunity for every human being to develop and constructively express their full potential.

Current systems of social development are unable to provide this opportunity. They do not even have the capacity to ensure to all peace, equity, sustainability, basic necessities, and social unity required for a basic human existence. No simple reform can change this, as their defects are inherent in the fundamentals of their ideology.

Rather than focus on criticising the defects of the dominant paradigm of development, PROUT emphasises a solution-oriented approach based on a new and empowering vision. It seeks to give humanity a constructive means to move towards a truly sustainable and abundant future.

The PROUT paradigm of development is grounded in a new synthesis of core values that arise from an emerging new worldview.

• Wholeness: There is a oneness to all beings, which interweaves them. The welfare of one cannot be separated from the welfare of the whole.
• Universal humanism: Humanism, which concerns itself with the welfare of human beings must be universal in approach, also including the welfare of all living beings.
• Post-materialism: The deepest sense of meaning in life is spiritual in nature. Spiritual life nurtures inner peace, love, compassion, self-awareness and wholeness.
• Diversity: Diversity is the law of nature. Social unity is to be found in mutual respect and appreciation for the natural expression of human diversity.
• Balance: Equilibrium must be maintained in all realms of social and economic life. When balance is lost, sustainability is jeopardised and social life disrupted.
• Dharma: Human life cannot be deconstructed into purposeless relativity. It has a core nature, and from the expression of that nature comes purpose and fullness of life.

Basic Policies and Approaches

Based on these basic sensibilities about life and reality, PROUT puts forward the fundamental social principle. It says that all people must have reasonable opportunities — individually and collectively to help them develop and progressively utilise their physical, mental and spiritual potentialities, while maintaining respect for the lives of other living beings.

In order to give practical expression to this fundamental principle, PROUT has proposed basic policies and approaches that should be followed in social, economic, political and cultural spheres of life.

• Basic necessities: The basic necessities and common amenities of life must be guaranteed to all. This fundamental right must extend to the whole of humanity.
• Effective incentives: While maintaining social equity, incentives should be distributed to those who make meritorious contributions through their work.
• Limited accumulation: There must be limits placed on the accumulation of wealth by individuals, which can only be exceeded by social permission.
• Rational distribution: The resources of the planet should be equitably distributed so that all human societies have proper opportunity for development.
• Maximum utilisation: Natural resources and human potentialities should be utilised without waste and for purposes that promote the quality of life.
• Balanced development: Everyone should have opportunity and should be encouraged to develop their physical, mental and spiritual potentials in a balanced way.
• Social balance: The full development of individual potential requires a vital society, and the development of society's potentials requires vital individuals.
• Progressive adjustment: All aspects of social life should maintain dynamic equilibrium by undergoing proactive and progressive adjustments.
• Socio-economic decentralisation: The locus of control of social and economic development should be local communities and bio-regions.
• Localised economies: The bulk of the basic commodities of life should be produced locally and regionally, and local enterprise controlled by local people.
• Economic planning: Economic planning should supplement markets to promote purchasing capacity, increase productivity, and meet collective necessity.
• Co-ordinated co-orperation: Relationships in the workplace, and other spheres of life, should be based on co-ordinated cooperation, not subordinated co-operation.
• Economic democracy: Economic security and the decentralisation of economic power are required for the proper functioning of the democratic government.
• Bio-regional nations: Nation-states should be replaced with natural nations based on factors that create common identity and cultural unity among people.
• Planetary federation: Increasing authority should be given to a world governing body to ensure human rights, protect the environment, maintain peace, and oversee the equitable distribution of resources.
• Existential rights: The existential rights of all forms of life should be recognised so that ecosystems can have ample diversity and vibrancy of life.
• Cultural rights: All people should have fundamental right to education, expression of culture, use of their mother language, and spiritual practice.
• Liberty: People should have full freedom of expression in mental and spiritual spheres of life, but be constrained from excess accumulation in the physical sphere.

Conditions for Social Transformation

Many people now recognise the need for a new paradigm of development, but they are challenged to envision how the leviathan global economy, with its allied state power, can be replaced. Though, this project may seem too overwhelming to take on, yet, it is essential to do so as the alternative to continued greed-driven, unsustainable growth. Reforms that ameliorate the excesses of the global economy are not sufficient; deep solutions are necessary.

PROUT not only offers a constructive social vision but also offers the means attain its sustainable and life-promoting paradigm of development. Some of the important factors that will facilitate this transition to a viable future are:

• Historical necessity: The dominant modality of development is inherently unsustainable. Historic necessity will amplify the power of ideas that provide effective solution to this crisis. When collective survival is at stake, conditions will change and opportunities to promote change will abound.
• New vision: There is need for a new social vision that can inspire people and offer them a solution-oriented approach to deepening problems.
• Practical models: There is also a need to develop practical models that demonstrate new values and new principles. These initiatives should increase in scope and complexity as capacity develops.
• Human development: The actors of change are individual humans. Establishing a new society in the hard ground of reality requires clear minds, loving hearts, and vitality of spirit.
• Competent leadership: Social transformation requires competent leaders motivated by universal welfare; those who can embody the values of the new social vision in their actions.
• Strong communities: Effective responses to the core challenges of the crisis require the efforts of united and cohesive communities. And, individuals who engage in social action require the community connectedness and support.
• Social movement: Social movements can give momentum to aspirations for a new social ideal. Such movements should have a sound base in a new vision, in moral leadership, and in supportive community. They should avoid harm to life and property, be inclusive, and not waste effort on unproductive challenges to a dying old order.

Future Vision

While recognising that humanity presently faces unprecedented problems, and that in the near times, significant disruptions in social life are inevitable, PROUT maintains a positive outlook on the future of human civilisation.

The future of humanity is very bright. The difficulties of the present are facilitating shifts of consciousness, and are dissolving worn out institutional frameworks, creating conditions for the rapid emergence of a universal humanity, able to work together to bring forward the rich potentialities of the human species — potentialities long suppressed in their expression by a greed-driven, materialist culture.

PROUT seeks to help open a path through the darkness of the present to this new stage of human existence and to provide a socio-economic paradigm in which humanity’s emerging vision can take firm root and flourish. It seeks to open a clear vista devoid of dogma-created impediments, for the comprehensive fulfillment of human potentialities.